Transition pathways and transitions to sustainability : A critical exploration of perspectives, typologies and agendas

Abstract

The perspective of transitions to sustainability seems to have almost replaced the perspective of sustainable development these days. The idea and concept of ‘transition pathways’ features prominently in it. Though originating from the field of systems thinking, it often tends to be approached in a rather instrumentalist way: how to make it happen. This often goes with a focus on technology and innovations. A different approach would be to focus on how to engage with related processes in appropriate ways and considering appropriate principles and values to be expressed through transition pathways. Another tendency is it to always think of transitions as something positive: “transitions to sustainability – must be good!”. In this discussion paper we problematise transition pathways as concept and approach to societal change – in particular in relation to food systems – and list a series of critical reflections. As we unpack related dimensions, perspectives, and societal processes, a clear picture emerges: the need to carefully consider implications of underlying dynamics and political agendas more than researchers tend to do. We close with a number of suggestions regarding ways in which this can be done.

Links

PhilArchive



    Upload a copy of this work     Papers currently archived: 90,593

External links

Setup an account with your affiliations in order to access resources via your University's proxy server

Through your library

  • Only published works are available at libraries.

Similar books and articles

Nurturing Technologies for Sustainability Transitions.A. P. Bos - 2013 - Foundations of Science 18 (2):367-372.
A Framework for Sustainability Transition: The Case of Plant-Based Diets. [REVIEW]Markus Vinnari & Eija Vinnari - 2014 - Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics 27 (3):369-396.
Sustainability Transitions and the Nature of Technology.Erik Paredis - 2011 - Foundations of Science 16 (2-3):195-225.
Desiring ethics. Reflections on veganism from an observational study of transitions in everyday energy use.Alice Dal Gobbo - 2018 - Energy Ethics: Emerging Perspectives in a Time of Transition: PART II 6 (2).
The Ehrenfest Classification of Phase Transitions: Introduction and Evolution.Gregg Jaeger - 1998 - Archive for History of Exact Sciences 53 (1):51-81.

Analytics

Added to PP
2021-12-21

Downloads
4 (#1,426,245)

6 months
1 (#1,040,386)

Historical graph of downloads
How can I increase my downloads?